Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that all children, including those who have special educational needs, have full access to (1) theatres, and (2) arts centres.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all children have access to arts and cultural attractions across the UK. That is why it encouraged Arts Council England to ensure that the public money it disburses is spread more equitably across the country, and why we are pleased to see a record number of cultural organisations receiving funding in more parts of the country than ever before, helping to bring world-class arts and culture closer to everyone.

Arts Council England funding supports a range of projects, programmes, and organisations which specialise in widening opportunities for young people, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The most recent annual survey of Arts Council national portfolio organisations showed that 509 organisations (61%) delivered specific activity for people with disabilities, with 71 reporting that this was a major focus of their work. 309 organisations in the portfolio delivered workshops or educational sessions for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

David Stanley is the Government’s Arts and Culture Disability and Access Ambassador. As founder and chief executive of the multi award-winning music education charity The Music Man Project, David is widely known for his experience and commitment to supporting people with special educational needs to access and participate in the arts. The Department is working closely with David to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, including children with special educational needs.

Arts Councils across the UK are also working with the British Film Institute to launch a free, UK-wide arts access scheme by early 2024. This scheme will operate across all arts and cultural venues, for seamless, barrier-free booking that is responsive to individual circumstances and needs.

Our work with the Department for Education on a new Cultural Education Plan, as committed to in the Schools White Paper, will build further on this important work.